Sock talk: A sequel, Abby Franquemont

Knitting DailyAbby Franquemont shared her spinning knowledge on Episode 309 of "Knitting Daily TV," which has not yet aired in Oregon. She shows how to spin yarn for self-striping socks.

For Sock Summit Aug. 6-9 in Portland, we interviewed a number of teachers at the fab event. Sadly, when we sent out our interviews, our one to Abby Franquemont got lost in the ether. We enjoyed them so much that even though it's belated, we wanted to share hers with you anyway...

"She has been spinning since she learned how in the Andes of Peru at the age of 5, and can't resist teaching others. She blogs at Abbysyarns.com, and has written for Spin-Off, Knitty, Twist Collective, Spindlicity, and more. She is the author of 'Respect the Spindle,' forthcoming this fall from Interweave Press."

1) So, why socks? What do you like best about knitting socks?
The handknit sock really is a great small-scale representation of something we've lost in modern life: the expectation that we can all have custom-made things that really fit. It's the interface between foot and shoe, and it should be right, and we shouldn't have to accept whatever mass-produced disposable sock is easy to make. Really, we shouldn't have to do that about any of our clothes if we don't want to -- but socks are a great, portable start.

2) What is your unique "trademark" about socks that you'll be sharing at Sock Summit?
I'm here to teach spinning -- because before you can knit or crochet socks (or anything else), you have to have yarn. As much control over your socks as you can get by knitting them yourself, you can extend that even further by spinning your own yarn, which is also a very enjoyable pursuit. I'm here to teach people to use handspindles, which are portable and small, just like socks.

3) Did you sign up for any classes? (Or try to but were too late?)
I'll be auditing a couple! The chance to do that is one of the really unusual things about Sock Summit as compared to most conferences, and I wouldn't miss it.

4) For folks who weren't quick enough to get into your class, where can they check out your sock style (books, patterns, Web site)?
I blog at abbysyarns.com, have written articles for Spin-Off, Spindlicity, Twist Collective, Knitty, and more. I teach spinning nationwide, and my first book, "Respect The Spindle: Spin Infinite Yarns With One Amazing Tool," will be out in November from Interweave Press, and can be pre-ordered now.

5) Do you have an all-time favorite sock pattern? What's your needle preference?
I'm fond of double-pointed needles for most circular applications. I rarely work directly from patterns for socks or anything else. I prefer to get the gist of what I'm trying to do, and then get down to the knitting. I don't think I have actually ever once completed a project exactly as the pattern was published. Well... maybe once. So with that in mind, my favorite sock pattern is Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's generic sock recipe from her book "Knitting Rules." It's infinitely adaptable and more about comprehending the object than anything else. But I'm a huge fan of clever construction and the vast range of sock techniques from all the cultures of the world.

6) Toes, heels, top down, toe up, doublepoints, two circular, magic loop -- there are all sorts of options for how to go at socks. Any advice for newbies who might be intimdated by all that on how to get started?
Just jump in! Don't worry if your first socks are little more than proof of concept -- as with anything, you've got to do it for a while before you get good at it, and with everything you try, you will improve at doing it. The same goes for spinning your own yarn, by the way.

Questions we ask for all our interviews:How did you learn to knit?
My parents were anthropologists studying textile production, and when I was 5 years old we moved to a weaving town in the rural Andes of Peru. I could already braid and do simple weaving, knitting, and crochet -- but not spin, and that was unacceptable to my new community in Peru, so they made sure I learned that as quickly as possible. As for knitting specifically, everyone in my family knit, including much of my extended family, and so did everyone in my community when I was little. I learned the same way I learned to read and write and tie my shoes and eat with silverware and that sort of thing. It was a household skill and just assumed. I never thought of myself as a knitter in an identity sense -- I thought of myself as a weaver that way, but not a knitter, because really, it was just an everyday skill that everyone had. The same goes for spinning.

Do you have a favorite thing you ever knit?
Whatever project I just started is my favorite ever; whatever project I'm almost done with is my least favorite.

Are you a one-at-a-time knitter or do you have multiple projects going?
Many projects, all the time. But I have lots of valid reasons (not that I think one needs to rationalize this). For example, sometimes I have a work project and a personal project going. And for ergonomic reasons, it's important to be able to switch between sizes of needles, for example -- so that means I should have a big needle project and a small needle project. Or what if my personal project is an enormous sweater and I can't fit it in my suitcase and I have to travel? In that case, I'd better start a tiny project. And then there's situations like the time I got stuck at the car dealership with a broken-down car for an entire day. It was a really, really good thing I had emergency yarn and needles in the car so I could start a new project since I didn't have one with me.

What's on your needles now?
I have a lace scarf in handspun cashmere and silk, which makes a wonderful travel project. At home there's an improvised triangle shawl that's been car emergency knitting, and a pair of socks for my husband. At Sock Summit, I started a new scarf to practice a new style of knitting I just learned, because it would have been a bad idea to switch halfway through my original scarf. Plus I've always got swatches going.

Do you have a knitting tip you'd like to share?
Just try it. Whatever it is, just try! It's really a low risk proposition. And if you aren't immediately successful in a textile technique, remember that these things take practice and time, and give yourself some of that. Let yourself be a novice and don't get upset if you're struggling with learning something. One of the best things about being involved with textiles is that there will always be more to learn.